It wasn’t supposed to be this easy. IndyCar’s USP is the high number of potential race winners in its pack for such a high-level open-wheel racing series. But Alex Palou defied this logic in 2023, making his second title appear routine on track with five victories. Off the track, however, it was an altogether more complicated story…
Palou only remained with Chip Ganassi Racing this season following a courtroom mediation after the veteran team owner sued his own driver in the middle of last summer. Back then, the Catalan wanted out, lured by the potential of a Formula 1 opportunity with McLaren. In a sense, he had his cake and ate it, getting multiple runs in McLaren’s TPC (testing previous cars) programme and an FP1 outing at the United States Grand Prix. And he got to stay with IndyCar’s best team of the moment, adding a 15th title to Ganassi’s glittering trophy cabinet.
While some in the team undoubtedly gave him the cold shoulder, keen to keep their secrets in house, it’s worth noting that Ganassi himself never let the legal dispute get between their personal relationship.
